Using Transfer Credit to Meet Requirements - FAQs
First-Year Writing FAQs
Transfer students who have taken a first-year writing course at another college or university may be able to use that course to satisfy the First-Year Writing Requirement. Transfer students should consult the list of approved courses from other schools, or conversely, the list of courses that are not approved, to see if their course either meets, or does not meet, the requirement.
What if my transfer course does not appear on either the approved or not approved list?
If your school or course is not listed on either the approved or not approved list, you can fill out a "Petition for Transfer Course Credit" form, which is available in the Sweetland Writing Center office or online. Please provide a course description (from the school catalog), course guidelines, and a detailed course syllabus. Submit all materials to Caroline Eisner, Associate Director, Sweetland Writing Center, 1139 Angell Hall, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003.
Upper Level Writing Requirement (ULWR) FAQ
Can a transfer course meet the Upper Level Writing Requirement?
No, the ULWR must be completed on the Ann Arbor campus.
Can an ULWR course also count in my concentration and distribution?
Yes, in one or the other, when applicable.
Quantitative Reasoning (QR/1, QR/2) FAQ:
Can my transfer credits be used to meet the QR requirement?
Most transfer credits do not automatically meet the QR requirement. For example, even if a math course you took transfers to UM as MATH 115, it may not meet the QR requirement. The only exceptions are transfer credits for PHYSICS 125, 126, 140, and 240 or any three-credit statistics course, which do meet the QR requirement without petition. For other courses, you must petition the Academic Standards Board for a substitution. Requests for a substitution are not granted automatically.
Race and Ethnicity (RE) FAQ:
Can transferred courses be used to meet the R&E requirement?
Transferred courses do not automatically meet the R&E requirement. Even if a course transfers in with the same title and catalog number as a UM course that meets the requirement, it still may not satisy the criteria for R&E course at UM. This is because two courses with similar title could have dramatically different content. If you have taken a course that seems to meet the R&E requirement, you may petition the Academic Standards Board.
Language FAQ:
Do all students need to complete the Language Requirement?
You are only exempt from the Language Requirement if you are a BGS students.
What should I do if I test into one of the terms of a language for which I was granted transfer credit?
If you elect a course for which you already have credit, you will lose the transfer credit. Language departments allow you to elect a course at a higher level than you placement. If you are confident in your language skills, you might elect the next course in the sequence and evaluate how you are doing during the first three weeks of the term. If you are not doing well you have the option of dropping the course. Another option is to elect the course recommended by your placement exam and forgo your transfer credit for that course. Consult with you academic advisor for the plan that best meets your needs.
May I take any of my language courses Pass/Fail?
Yes. Although it is not encouraged, you may take any language course Pass/Fail EXCEPT the fourth semester. The fourth-semester course must be taken for a grade.
Can I earn retroactive credits in a language?
Yes. If you have done very well on your language placement exam (in Latin, German, Spanish, French, or Hebrew) you may be eligible to receive retroactive credit. Consult your academic advisor or the LSA Bulletin for details.
Can I be placed in a higher- or lower-level language course than that indicated by my placement score?
If the instructor of the course in which you have been placed feels that a change of level is advisable, this can be arranged during the first week or two of classes. You CANNOT take a course lower than that indicated by your placement-test score and still receive credit toward graduation without the written approval of the coordinator of the language course in which you are originally placed. Similarly, if you feel confident that your language preparation warrants taking a higher-level course than your score suggests, talk it over with your academic advisor. If he or she agrees, you may attempt the higher-level course.
Distribution FAQ:
Can courses from my concentration also be used to meet distribution requirements?
Courses from your concentration cannot be used for distribution. For example, if you are an English concentrator, no courses from the English department can be used towards distribution. The only exception to this policy is that courses that are prerequisites for a concentration and are from outside that department can be used for distribution. For example, if you are concentrating in Biology, prerequisite courses such as CHEM 130, MATH 115, PHYSICS 125/127, etc., can be used for distribution.
Can my cognates count toward distribution?
Even though cognate courses are from outside your concentration department, they still count as part of your concentration and, therefore, cannot be used toward distribution.
If I’m planning on a double concentration, can the courses from my second concentration count toward distribution?
Yes. If you complete a double concentration, you can use the courses from one of the concentrations to meet distribution requirements.
Can distribution courses be taken Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit?
Yes.
Can distribution courses overlap with the R&E, QR, First-Year Writing, and Upper-Level Writing requirements?
Yes.
Can Non-LSA courses be used toward distribution?
There are a limited number of Non-LSA courses at UM that have been approved to count as Creative Expression credit for distribution. For a complete list, see the LSA Bulletin or the LSA Online Course Guide.
